Integrated resort development greenlit for residential islands

The Ministry of Tourism has introduced a new regulation for the development of integrated tourist resorts in residential areas.

According to the regulations, separate tourist resorts, resort hotels, hotels, and other facilities catering to tourists can now be established in residential islands. These resorts will be developed within residential areas to offer the services and facilities typical of resorts. The specifics will be determined through consultations involving the Tourism Ministry, the island council, and the city council.

Integrated tourist resorts are required to operate restaurants and water sports activities catering to tourists, which can be utilized by the resort guests as well as other tourists visiting the island. The developer or sub-lessee of the integrated tourist resort is responsible for developing and maintaining roads to the land allocated to individual businesses.

According to the regulations, restaurants and water sports activities should be conducted in integrated tourist resorts to cater to tourists in a manner that can be used not only by the resort but also by other tourists visiting the island. It is the responsibility of the developer or sub-lacey developing the integrated tourist resort to construct and maintain access roads that allow entry and exit to the land allotted to individual businesses to serve tourists.

There are no obstacles to providing basic services to integrated tourist resorts through the public services established on the island, according to the tourism ministry.

If an integrated tourist resort is operating on uninhabited islands, the tourism ministry will need to determine the services provided to tourists in those areas. However, guest houses are not permitted to operate in such locations.

According to the tourism ministry, if a separate resort is constructed on the islands designated to develop an integrated tourist resort, 50 percent of the island's land area can be utilized to develop the resort.

Additionally, the tourism ministry has announced plans to install yacht marinas in integrated tourist resorts.

Under the new regulations, a place that has already been developed and completed will be required to pay USD 1 million (MVR 154 million) if it is converted into an integrated resort.